Be careful of what you eat. That is the message NSC director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong has for the Malaysian contingent heading to the MyanmarSEA Games next month. – Filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong has advised athletes to be careful of what they consume whilst competing at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar next month.

There has been much speculation about the conditions and the difficulty in obtaining halal food at the three cities, Naypyitaw, Yangon and Pathein, which will host sporting events during the Games.

Following this summer’s rioting in western Burma, all eyes have been fixed on the government’s handling of the unrest in Rakhine state. With external pressure mounting, most specifically from the Islamic world, Burmese officials – from President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw to local security troops in western Burma – have been playing ostensibly the “humanist and humanitarian” card with the Rohingya.

This ethno-nationalism is more likely to lead to a sort of “ethnocracy” than to a real democracy.

And it is important to remember that it has led to catastrophic outcomes in many other places (the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Nazi Germany …), and it is particularly dangerous in a country with as much diversity as Burma.(more…)

We are concerned that despite the fact that the government of Burma has not met a single one of the twenty main demands made in last year’s resolution, the European Union had seriously considered discontinuing the resolution. We are also concerned that it was the possibility of the Organisation of Islamic Conference drafting a resolution if the European Union did not, and a demarche by the USA, which appeared to be key deciding factors in continuing the resolution, rather than serious ongoing human rights abuses which violate international law, and the fact that Burma has failed to comply with the previous 22 resolutions.(more…)

President Thein Sein has been hailed by the British government and many other world leaders as a reformer. He has even been described as courageous. In their rush to embrace Thein Sein as a democratic reformer, the British government, which used to talk about justice, accountability, and ending impunity in Burma, seem prepared to ignore the fact that Thein Sein spent 14 years on the ruling council of the previous dictatorship, and was one of its most senior members.

From Farhanah Azmi. YANGON (Myanmar), Sept 28 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Embassy in Myanmar will issue a travel advisory for Malaysians visiting Myanmar for the 27th SEA Games which will be held from Dec 11-22.

SORRY FOR THE WRONG NEWS. After all Sai Mauk Kham is not so generous not not a bigot nor not a sycophant puppet of Myanmar Military dictators. I have shared the correcting news below the false news. I have heard that he had even uttered the Anti-Muslim and Anti-Rohingya remarks last month.

Thank You, friend and fellow Luyechun Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham for the generous donations for the damaged Lashio Masjid. He was one year junior to me in IMM or now changed name to MMU. He donated Kyat 20 million for the repair of the Masjid and permit to reopen.